Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SBC21

Most recents (24)

Ascol recap - Tom at previous SBC annual meetings

2018: Tom is disappointed he couldn't publicly ask Russell Moore a "gotcha" about if the SBC should host conferences named after abusers. (This was a reference to the SBC-hosted MLK Jr. conference.)

Also: Doug Wilson quote?

1/
2019 : Tom Ascol is VERY upset about Resolution 9 b/c it cautiously says CRT can be a useful tool.

Also 2019: Tom Ascol records Kyle J Howard w/o his knowledge, through a lapel mic, under false pretenses, for a documentary filmed by Marcus Pittman & Jared Longshore.

2/
2020: In the months previous, Tom quotes his own documentary regarding the SBC, urging his followers to "take the ship," a phrase that would be endlessly re-echoed by his CBN "pirate" allies a year later.

He also critiqued SEBTS for talking about racial injustice.

3/
Read 7 tweets
Welcome to one of our favorite annual traditions: counting down our most popular posts from the past year!

30. Our 2021 list begins with Daniel Williams, who placed four posts on this list in his first full year of blogging. patheos.com/blogs/anxiousb… #YearInReview
29. In another post about the mainline, Dan Williams suggested that many white liberal Protestants underwent a kind of secularizing “conversion experience” during the civil rights movement. patheos.com/blogs/anxiousb… #YearInReview
28. In the first of his two posts on our 2021 list, Philip Jenkins urged us to take seriously the possibility that “we really are seeing a precipitous decline in religion as such… however broadly we define it.” patheos.com/blogs/anxiousb… @BaylorISR #YearInReview
Read 31 tweets
@drjamesmerritt is the same guy that cynically used the bully pulpit to shame the conservatives at #SBC21 for "caring about CRT more than the gospel" to rousing applause from his tribe.

Here you see the reason conservatives care about CRT/I is *because* of the gospel...
Dr. Merritt explains that his gay son's message on Mark 13 is "both brilliant and faithful."

It would seem Dr. Merritt is neither.

"No liberal drift" they said.
A lot of third-way unity guys loved that jab from Merritt at the convention, but it shows you that guys like that don't *really* want unity, they just want you to want unity.
Read 4 tweets
I have followed the issues surrounding the @SBCExecComm w/great interest. Given my role as @SWBTS president, I have refrained from commenting publicly b/c I think those in @SBCCP roles like mine should be very careful to opine on matters not directly related to our entities. 1/
But after today’s special @SBCExecComm meeting, I am seeing increasing calls for @SBCCP defunding, and that both grieves and alarms me b/c of unintended consequences. I certainly understand the frustration of the #SBC21 messengers’ will being repeatedly delayed or disregarded. 2/
To use the line from @CollegeGameDay, the @SBCExecComm had “one job” coming out of #SBC21: to figure out a way to do what the messengers said they wanted done the way the messengers said they wanted it done. Messengers decided not to “trust” the EC but to “direct” it, period. 3/
Read 12 tweets
Going to retweet some of the New Yorker article with parts that stuck out to me as it illustrates why I started questioning complementarianism and eventually decided this whole debate is fit only for the trash can.

This will be a thread, and probably a long one. 01/?
"For a time, Barr fell under the sway of an abusive boyfriend, who, while menacing her, spat Scripture demanding her submission. The fact that she couldn’t question him made it harder to see the abuse for what it was."

02/?
The first time I ever felt called on to use counseling training was when a young woman I worked with confided in me that her then-boyfriend was mentally, verbally, and socially cruel to her. Neither were saved, but I realized "complementarianism" had no category for this. 03/?
Read 28 tweets
I feel like the #sbc21 and its aftermath - including today's plagiarism discussions - resembles far more 1 Corinthinans, "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos," than brothers in a common field.
If we are no longer in fellowship over true doctrinal issues - then we move apart. As did Paul and Barnabas at one point. Did one see either going to the Jerusalem council to slander the other?
Even in matters of true dangerous heresy - as I might argue some of the points of difference in #sbc21 are - the gnostism is denounced, and the truth proclaimed. We are called to lovingly call for repentance and clear assertions of righteousness, not character attacks
Read 4 tweets
🧵I give thanks for the #SBC21 vote for investigation of @SBCExecComm & audit re #SBC abuse. But I want to also be clear about the limitations of this vote. It carries POTENTIAL but for that potential to eventually be realized there must be bird-dogging & follow-up. 1/
The #SBC21 vote does not serve to expose a single clergy abuser or enabler; nor does it create a database of clergy predators. It doesn't provide communal validation to #SBCtoo survivors by naming their abusers. It doesn't provide any aid or therapy costs to #SBCtoo survivors. 2/
It does not make public institutional apology to any #SBCtoo survivor for grotesqueries of #SBC officials.

These much-needed steps are wholly left up in the air. Moreover, rather than helping #SBCtoo survivors, the vote is actually asking that survivors help the #SBC. 3/
Read 11 tweets
So, the uber-fundamentalists and hyper-Republicans in a splinter network of the SBC are...

*checks notes

...playing the race and gender card?

#SBC21
This is also the same group that orchestrated ways to give the Executive Committee more power, but they're complaining that the messengers have little to no power and that the Convention is run by "elites."
For the record, the SBC is more diverse than it has ever been, and the messengers soundly defeated any attempt to consolidate power at the top.

These accusations are just more attempts to divide, and are easily recognizable for what they are to anyone who was there.
Read 7 tweets
Given the media reports after the SBC annual meeting, I’ve had many ask me about my thoughts concerning a supposed “liberal drift” in the SBC. (thread)
I agree with comments made recently by some SBC leaders that the convention is indeed experiencing a drift— not toward liberalism, but rather toward fundamentalism.
The secular/leftward shift of the culture at large appears to have created a pendulum swing reacting to “errors” that are not materially existent in the SBC— a confessional body where no effort has been made to change the Baptist Faith and Message in over 20 years.
Read 8 tweets
THREAD 🧵: As a Reformed Baptist Chaplain and “outsider” watching the world’s largest Protestant denomination at their own meeting (#SBC21). I have a few things I’d like to say for those of you who actually care:

1/12
First, it is entirely disheartening to see one of the last large, strong, Christian groups succumb to the abhorrent liberalism that is creeping its way into seemingly every sphere of life.

2/12
Second, the sanctity of life was disparaged when it was not made a priority in the agenda YET AGAIN. Then even weakened the abolitionist wording of the text to the point of being incremental. Abortion at all stages, and for all reasons, is murder.

3/12
Read 16 tweets
The world was watching #SBC21 and from a non baptist here is what I saw. 1. You care more about numbers(churches/sent ppl) than you do about making sure the ones you have are biblical.
2. Emotions and experiences drove most of your resolutions. And if any came against your recommendations biblically you threw an emotional fit.
3. You did not want to call sinful things sin if it meant it could offend someone.
Read 6 tweets
#SBC21 Messengers...Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for hearing our cries and acting in support! While I am beyond elated many important steps have been taken over the last 2 days, there is so much work still left to be done...and it cannot be done by 1 person alone.
There will be a continued need for many things as we move forward with a new sense of hope...Accountability for promises made, ministering to survivors (while meeting them where they are,) continued education into trauma and how we as Christians can respond in a way that...
that honors Christ...etc.
Then, once the investigation is complete and made known, there will be many more steps needed to be taken in regards to genuine repentance & restitution along with concrete actions to prevent further harm to God's children. This is just the beginning...
Read 4 tweets
Begins with Ronnie Floyd: I hear you. The Executive Comm respects the messengers. We need this deliberative process. We know that this will make our convention stronger. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBCtoo #SBC
NOW: Troy Bush, whose church we covered this week, is now speaking. Accuses the executive committee of not even doing the bare minimum when "investigating" a church

"We believe that the executive comm does not have the ability to handle this task force." #SBC21 #SBC2021 @SBCtoo
Read 8 tweets
NOW: 15K Southern Baptists will debate/vote on a third-party investigation into whether top leaders sought to suppress abuse survivors/stifle reforms/intimidate leaders like Russ Moore. #SBC2021 #SBC21 #SBCtoo

It's prolly more important than you think.

Here's why:
Sex abuse has again dominated discussions here, including in yesterdays presidential election. But that was among a variety of issues at hand.

This tho? It will be a huge indicator of how much Southern Baptists are willing to put on the line re: abuse. #SBC2021 #SBC21 #SBCtoo
Over the last three years, Southern Baptists have shown they're willing to do a lot of things, so long as they are forward-looking. That's great/important.

But true repentance means rectifying wrongs committed, regardless of the toll.

That's how survivors are seeing this vote.
Read 8 tweets
🧵re @toddbenkert motion at #SBC21. It's referred to @ERLC. Todd shared this strategy with me in advance. Yes, I'm wary of ERLC, no getting around it. You know me. Long history has dug a deep well of skepticism. Still...This is something substantive & real. It's earnest effort...
...that holds POTENTIAL to bring #SBC institutional reform, accountability for abusers & enablers, and true care for survivors. The word POTENTIAL is critical. THIS IS A BEGINNING, NOT AN END. There will be many possibilities for derailment. SBCers: You must persist. #SBC21
Concerns & possible stumbling points: 1) Sooo much will depend on WHO @ERLC hires for the audit. GRACE has strong track-record of trust in survivor community. 2) Funding may be a HUGE issue. 3) Aim of this 3-yr audit is broad-spectrum data & analysis.
#SBC21
Read 8 tweets
Wednesday at #SBC21 begins with Grant Gaines speaking to his call for a third party investigation into the Exec committee and abuse.

"These are not allegations we can sweep yunder the rug. These are allegations we must get to the bottom to." #SBCtoo #SBC2021 #SBC
Gaines: "We should be bending over backwards to ensure we do everything we can."

Gaines then directs comments to survivors, tells them they matter and are worth fighting for.

A lot of applause. #SBCtoo #SBC2021 #SBC
Read 5 tweets
#SBC21 Resolution 1 was an argument for Resolution 2 (the far more controversial one) as written (not naming CRT/I). Resolution Committee leadership stated that there was a strategic order to the resolutions. A good one word amendment to resolution 1 was rejected by Resolution
Committee. That amendment would have made Resolution 2 harder to pass as written (not naming CRT/I). If you understand the logic between resolution 1 and resolution 2, then you will better understand what is wrong with the SBC. #SBC21
A Resolution on the “Incompatibility of CRT/I with the BFM2000” was not accepted but attached to resolution 2 by the Resolution Committee. The “Incompatibility” resolution had 1300+ signers. No other resolution came close to that many, most signers to others was only about 5.
Read 7 tweets
“We are a family, & at times we seem incredibly dysfunctional. But we love each other,” says @EdLitton to press. Says he feels God has called him to “help us remember again why we’re a family, and what the focus & objective is...to get the good news to as many people.” #SBC21
Says he wants to build bridges and not walls. Litton has run for president on a campaign focused on unity & healing and being Great Commission Baptists. He won 52% of votes in a run off.
Says there needs to be an independent investigation into sexual abuse cases, says SBC posture to sexual abuse survivors must be “pastoral.” Says we need to be diligent to make sure churches are safe places for protecting people who were victimized.
Read 13 tweets
Litton begins w his story of growing up in a broken home and finding God at 7. He then talks about losing his wife in a car accident 14 years ago. He then married his wife Kathy, whose husband - an SBC pastor - also died in a car accident. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
Litton: We both have a profound sense of pain and suffering in our live that has changed us, and I think changed us for the better. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
Litton: There are 4.5 billion people on this planet who we feel have not heard the good news of Jesus Christ... WE exalt the Gospel above all else... it means we haev to work and iron out our differences. My goal is to build bridges, not walls. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
Read 11 tweets
I didn't hear the exact vote count but it was roughly a 53 to 47 percent vote split. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
"We have finally, after all of these decades, begun to overturn the power structure. The messengers are listening and acting on behalf of Christ," said @ThigpenTiffany, a survivor and advocate whose abuses were mishandled by top SBC leaders. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
Read 7 tweets
ITS A RUNOFF. Stone and Litton going toe-to-toe now.

Full results:

Mohler: 3764, 23.62%
Stone: 5216, 36.48%
Litton: 4630, 32.38%
Adams: 673, 4.7%

#SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
This is precisely what many people thought would happen -- and the stakes for the SBC abuse crisis are pretty massive.

Stone has been at the center of ongoing scandals regarding allegations of coverups, intimidation by top SBC leaders.

From yesterday:

houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…
Meanwhile Litton has wide respect/support among survivors, advocates and pastors who've been outspoken on abuse issues.

Hard to overstate how much is on the line here. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBCtoo #SBC
Read 5 tweets
RESOLVED: MY computer issues. Just in time for resolutions. Tweets in thread below. #SBC2021 #SBC21 #SBC #SBCtoo
Guy at mic now reading the below tweet from a prominent, anti-CRT activist. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC
LOL @david_bumg: Ive been two three different mics and Im begging you, for all that is holy, turn on the air conditioning.

The floor erupts. Sweat flies everywhere. Madness in every direction. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC #SBCtoo
Read 10 tweets
Aaaaadddd the SBC presidential election is underway, beginning with HB Charles nominating Al Mohler.

I’ll be here and, believe it or not, will be tweetin #SBC21 #SBC2021
Mike Stone has been nominated by Pastor Dean Haun, who praises his years of local church service and work with the SBC exec committee. #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBCtoo
Former SBC president Fred Luter now nominating Ed Litton, who Luter says "brings a compassionate and shepharding heart. We need a pastor who has a love for God and God's people." #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBCtoo
Read 7 tweets
THIS AFTERNOON: Vote for @PastorMikeStone for SBC president

Pastor Mike Stone:
🔸is a pastor with years of pastoral leadership experience and a heart for shepherding a local church. The local church is the headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention.

#SBC21
🔸 supports without hesitation the sufficiency of Scripture. His commitment to the BF&M 2000 & the implementation of this important document in Southern Baptist life will give us confidence & clarity to stand boldly for the Word of God in an increasingly anti-Christian culture.
🔸holds that the Bible is the only analytical tool he needs, leading him to reject unbiblical ideologies such as Critical Race Theory, presented to SBC Annual Meeting messengers in 2019 as a beneficial analytical tool via Resolution 9.
Read 9 tweets

Related hashtags

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!